Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Cerber ransomware is a type of virus that encrypts user's files and demands a victim to pay a ransom to get his or her files back. The name and extension of the encrypted files are renamed and vary depending on Cerber's version. It may be “.cerber”, “.cerber2,” or any random generated letters and numbers. After a victim pays a ransom, he or she is able to decrypt files with a provided decryption software (Cerber Decryptor). To proof that they are not bluffing, criminals allow a victim to upload one desired file and then download it decrypted. The price asked for a decryption software varies but usually it is from $500 to $2000.

A computer desktop wallpaper, replaced by a variant of Cerber ransomware

In this article we will not discuss how to acquire a decryptor from criminals. We assume that you have already read all the information that Cerber ransomware virus has left on your PC and have come here to learn about alternative methods for restoring your files.
We are not to be held responsible for any file loss (or failed recovery process) when using information on this site. Note that any activity on the infected computer (including the removal of a malware) may reduce the probability to successfully restore files.
In the end, make a decision depending on what you have learnt and the importance of the encrypted files.

Cerber Decryptor

Trend Micro Ransomware File Decryptor

To decrypt .cerber extension files try a Ransomware File Decryptor from Trend Micro. Trend Micro is an IT security company focusing on the development of security solutions. As there are many variants of this virus, download the latest version of this tool to check if it can recover your files. Currently, only the first variant of Cerber ransomware (extension “.cerber”) can be decrypted with this tool.
When launched, File Decryptor Tool needs to find the first file that has been encrypted. That is why it must run on the infected computer itself. You will find a download link bellow following the section 'Cerber ransomware decryption methods'.

Cerber Ransomware Removal

To remove Cerber from your PC, you have to kill all malware processes and delete the corresponding files. Also you must delete registry entries that are linked to those processes. If any infected files are left on the system, the ransomware can reinstall itself the next time the PC boots up. Usually executable files of viruses have random file names and multiple registry entries. This makes a manual removal process very difficult and time-consuming. We advise you to use an automated virus removal tool that will not just remove the infection, but will also protect your computer from future cyber threats. Malware Security Suite is one of the best available malware removers that detects Cerber. You can scan your computer before purchasing the software to make sure that it finds malware on your PC.

Download Anti-Malwarefor Cerber Ransomware detectionDisclaimer: Automatic removal software is recommended for scanning and cleaning your computer from all types of malware (including ransomware). Anti-malware may remove all entries related to Cerber ransomware. Scan with the malware remover after you have finished restoring your files.

Cerber ransomware decryption methods:

Restore files from backup.

Restore encrypted files from Shadow Copies.

Restore your files (with System Restore).

Decrypt with Ranomware Decryptor.

1. Restore files from backup

If you have backups, this is the easiest and quickest way to restore your files. Use this method if you cannot recover newer versions of files from shadow copies (see method 2).

2. Use shadow copies to restore files to previous versions

If automated backups (Volume Shadow copy) are configured, you can use them to restore Cerber encrypted files to previous versions. Depending on the operating system, there are slightly different methods for using this.
In Windows 7 you can find shadow copies quite easily. Just right-click on the folder and select 'Properties'. Then click 'Previous Versions' tab. Select a desired version, click 'Restore' and you are done.
If your are a Windows 8 user, we recommend you to use a free utility that helps access shadow copies (ShadowExplorer http://www.shadowexplorer.com/downloads.html), as Microsoft has partly removed this feature (has made it less accessible).
In Windows 10, although 'Previous Versions' tab is restored back, it depends on the File History feature.

3. Restore the system (and its files) to a previous clean state

You can restore a whole system to a previuos clean state (the date before the infection). Read these articles from Microsoft for detailed instructions:

After accepting the License Agreement, you will be ready to use Anti-Ransomware tool.

Select the ransomware name: Cerber.

Select the encrypted file or folder.

Click 'OK' to start decrypting.

Note that a decryption process will take about 4 hours to complete. Do not turn off your computer while the tool is running. Keep in mind that a higher number of cores CPU has, the stronger is Cerber encryption. So your chances to restore files are weakened.

After you have finished restoring your files, remove the Cerber Ransomware with Malware removal suite. If you will not remove the virus, the next time you boot your computer, your documents can be encrypted again.

Saturday, January 30, 2016

If you are one of the unfortunate many who has been infected by "Ads by Not set" adverts and you would like to learn how to get rid of them so you can browse in peace, you've come to the right place. If you would also like to learn a little more about this malware, then we suggest you continue to read because in this article we are going to take a closer look at how it got its name, what it means for you as a PC user, and how and why it has a rather unsettling habit of seemingly being able to read your mind.

How many more ways can cyber criminals get you to part with your money?

The internet is big business – that doesn't come as much of a surprise – but what you may not realize is that cyber crime is constantly evolving and the ways and means which cyber criminals are employing to unleash carnage on our computers and defraud us of our hard earned cash is in perpetual motion as the industry fights to stay one step ahead of the reactive security tools and anti-viruses that are doing their best to keep up with them.

It is certainly true that malware comes in many shapes and sizes, whether a programmer is corrupting your data for "fun" or installing something known as a keystroke logger on your device so it can copy the information you input into your keyboard, and whether they are trying to hack your bank account or steal your identity, or simply employing underhand tactics to drive traffic and leads to their website, we are faced with no end of dangers and annoyances. All of which can have a real negative effect on your computer's performance.

As mentioned, here we are going to take a look at malware that displays "Ads by Not set" ads on your computer. And although this is often not considered to be as lethal as other types of malware, its habit of installing a component and tracking your web use (and thereby being able to send you those 'mind reading' adverts that are tailored to your interests) means that many people take umbrage to its existence on their computer and just want to be able to remove it.

A brief guide to removing "Ads by Not set" with a removal program:

Download a reputable malware removal program (download link below).

Back up your files to an external hard drive. (Important!)

Restart it while holding the F8 key down during boot up. (Safe Mode.)

Run the malware removal program.

When the scan is complete it will tell you the name of the malware.

Delete the file!

Reboot your PC.

Run the malware removal program again to be sure you are 100% malware-free.

Hopefully now you should no longer be plagued by those pesky adverts.

Still getting annoying "Ads by Not set" ads?

Please follow the steps in the removal guide below. If you have any questions, please leave a comment down below. Good luck and be safe online!

"Ads by Not set" Removal Guide:

1. First of all, download anti-malware software and run a full system scan. It will detect and remove this infection from your computer. You may then follow the manual removal instructions below to remove the leftover traces of this malware. Hopefully you won't have to do that.

2. Remove "Ads by Not set" related programs from your computer using the Uninstall a program control panel (Windows 7).
Go to the Start Menu. Select Control Panel → Uninstall a Program.

If you are using Windows 8 or 10, simply drag your mouse pointer to the right edge of the screen, select Search from the list and search for "control panel".

Or you can right-click on a bottom left hot corner (formerly known as the Start button) and select Control panel from there.

3. When the Add/Remove Programs or the Uninstall a Program screen is displayed, scroll through the list of currently installed programs and remove the following:

Capricornus

GoSave

Extag

SaveNewaAppz

and any other recently installed application

Simply select each application and click Remove. If you are using Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8, click Uninstall up near the top of that window. When you're done, please close the Control Panel screen.

Remove "Ads by Not set" related extensions from Google Chrome:

1. Click on Chrome menu button. Go to More Tools → Extensions.

2. Click on the trashcan icon to remove Capricornus, Extag, Gosave, HD-Plus 3.5 and other extensions that you do not recognize.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Like most of us, chances are you are getting more than fed up of having to constantly be on the lookout for, and defend yourself against, the numerous hacking and phishing attacks, malware, computer viruses, browser hijackers and other cyber criminal activity that is now so commonplace that we are virtually immune to it.

The trouble is, the more high profile attacks and security breaches there are in the news, the more we think that, as a small company or an individual computer user, we are safe from being targeted. But that is simply not true – after all, if you were a malware programmer or cyber criminal, who'd you go after: the big enterprise with a robust security posture – or an end user who is likely not to have updated their anti-software program since they bought their laptop? With that in mind it makes perfect sense to take steps to protect your PC from an attack.

Top Arama browser hijacker

Of course, not all malware or other programs or threats are created equal and the damage they can inflict can have varying degrees of severity, but regardless, you should still take steps to protect yourself – and your computer – from attack by any type of undesirable program because if they do have one thing in common is that they can all cause issues - ranging from sluggishly running operating systems to complete and utter data corruption or loss.

You may well have heard browser hijackers - described as inhabiting the tamer end of the malware scale. Indeed there is an argument as to whether they are actually malware or not. And although it is true to say that such browser hijackers as Top Arama are not nearly as harmful as something such as a Trojan Horse, that is not to say that you should ignore them.

What does Top Arama do?

Think browser hijackers are not 'that bad'? Take a look at the following Top Arama's traits and see if you change your mind:

Top Arama's main 'function' is to uninstall your existing search engine provider and homepage and replace it with one of their own design, in this case search.top-arama.com. That in itself is annoying enough when you are used to, and are perfectly happy with, your existing set-up, however...

Browser hijackers change these things, not because their programmer truly believes that their new home page is any better than the one previously installed in your browser. It is because the home page has been designed to manipulate your internet searches so that traffic is driven a website of the Top Arama programmer's choice. And this will happen every time you try and search for something. Annoying, much?

How did the Top Arama infect your computer?

Browser hijackers usually come bundled with another programs when you're downloading them, which means that you need to be proactive and read software licensing agreements properly. For the most part, the Top Arama browser hijacker will be mentioned in the fine print, so take a moment and make sure you know exactly what you are downloading.

How do I remove it?

It can be a tedious task. It modifies browser settings and also makes modifications to Windows registry. Hopefully, the removal guide below will help you to remove this browser hijacker from your computer. If you have any questions, please leave a comment down below. Good luck and be safe online!

Top Arama Removal Guide:

1. First of all, download recommended anti-malware software and run a full system scan. It will detect and remove this infection from your computer. You may then follow the manual removal instructions below to remove the leftover traces of this infection. Hopefully you won't have to do that.

2. Remove Top Arama related programs from your computer using the Uninstall a program control panel (Windows 7). Go to the Start Menu. Select Control Panel → Uninstall a Program.

If you are using Windows 8 or 10, simply drag your mouse pointer to the right edge of the screen, select Search from the list and search for "control panel".

Or you can right-click on a bottom left hot corner (formerly known as the Start button) and select Control panel from there.

3. When the Add/Remove Programs or the Uninstall a Program screen is displayed, scroll through the list of currently installed programs and remove the following programs:

Top Arama

LiveLyrics

GoSave

ExtTag

If you are using Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8, click Uninstall up near the top of that window. When you're done, please close the Control Panel screen.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Outrageous Deal has the ability to either download or display adverts on to your computer whenever you are online and connected to the internet. These Outrageous Deal ads can look a little different to each other, but needless to say, they all fall under the umbrella of adware. Some of the ads (often thought of as the most annoying sort) are pop-up or pop-under windows that will attack you with willful abandon, while others are the common enough banner adverts. Others still may be links or boxes placed at strategic points on your computer or other device's screen.

The one thing that these different styles of Outrageous Deal adverts all do have in common however, is an uncanny ability to match your needs or interests, as discerned by the adware. This might seem like a coincidence at first, then it can seem downright spooky. You may well get to the point whereby after you have seen the 15th advert for bargain fitted kitchens, or fashionable sneakers – and, crucially - those are the very items you have recently been searching for online, you either might start freaking out and wondering just how on earth your computer knows what you are looking at online – or maybe you are thinking that there perhaps might just be a little more to adware than it first seems.

The reason why you have Outrageous Deal on your computer

For the most part it comes bundled with another program, application or software tool that you have downloaded. Whether or not the application or software is free or you are paying for it turns out to be pretty much irrelevant. Outrageous Deal is developed, in the majority of cases, to recoup the costs of developing another applications or software that is given away for free. In addition to this it is also used by a developer so that they can earn money through the adverts themselves.

So Outrageous Deal is not a mind reader?

No. You can throw any thoughts of coincidence or supernatural goings on out of the window for the fact is that Outrageous Deal is a cleverly designed piece of software that is able to track which websites you are looking at – whether that is fitted kitchens or the latest must have footwear. When you install the original program – and the adware alongside it – you are also installing a component onto your computer that will monitor which websites you visit, and collect that data. This information is relayed back to the developer who is then able to show you advertising based on your search and browsing habits.

How to get rid of Outrageous Deal ads?

To remove this adware from your computer and stop Outrageous Deal ads, please follow the steps in the removal guide below. If you have any questions, please leave a comment down below. Good luck and be safe online!

Outrageous Deal Ads Removal Guide:

1. First of all, download anti-malware software and run a full system scan. It will detect and remove this infection from your computer. You may then follow the manual removal instructions below to remove the leftover traces of this malware. Hopefully you won't have to do that.

2. Remove Outrageous Deal related programs from your computer using the Uninstall a program control panel (Windows 7).
Go to the Start Menu. Select Control Panel → Uninstall a Program.

If you are using Windows 8 or 10, simply drag your mouse pointer to the right edge of the screen, select Search from the list and search for "control panel".

Or you can right-click on a bottom left hot corner (formerly known as the Start button) and select Control panel from there.

3. When the Add/Remove Programs or the Uninstall a Program screen is displayed, scroll through the list of currently installed programs and remove the following:

Outrageous Deal

GoSave

Extag

SaveNewaAppz

and any other recently installed application

Simply select each application and click Remove. If you are using Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8, click Uninstall up near the top of that window. When you're done, please close the Control Panel screen.

Remove Outrageous Deal related extensions from Google Chrome:

1. Click on Chrome menu button. Go to More Tools → Extensions.

2. Click on the trashcan icon to remove Outrageous Deal, Extag, Gosave, HD-Plus 3.5 and other extensions that you do not recognize.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Yoursites123 is a browser hijacker that modifies your web browser and Windows registry. It's very similar to Mysearch123. Once installed, it will change your home page and default search engine provider to Yoursites123 (http://www.yoursites123.com/). It's not a real search engine, even though it may look like the real thing. It simply redirects your searches to globososo.inspsearch.com or similar websites that most likely pay for search traffic. Inspsearch.com is not a new kid on the block. I mentioned in my previous article about Delta-homes browser hijacker. Despite being blocked by most antivirus engines it still manages to operate successfully and generate revenue which is without a doubt the main reason why browser hijackers are creates in the first place. When it comes to browser hijackers, we are talking about something that can have an annoying – and sometimes dangerous – effect on your computer.

Browser hijackers are characterized by the fact that they come in the guise of something that appears to be innocent – and often useful. They magically manifest themselves as a tool bar, a home page, a browser or a search engine. In this case Yoursites123 is installed as a homepage or a startup page is you want. At this point you could be forgiven for thinking 'but what is so wrong with that?' After all, these are things that we depend on daily when we are using our computers or tablets.

The Yoursites123 problem

The issue with browser hijackers is that they install themselves on your desktop, laptop or tablet without expressly asking your permission. The silver lining to the cloud is that most browser hijackers are not especially dangerous – but nevertheless they take it up a notch on the annoyance scales and can leave you tearing your hair out in frustration as you battle with them. Just like their furry counterparts, these browser hijackers are extremely willful and will do exactly what they want.

That might not involve pooping on the rug, but they will replace your existing functions with their own versions. These will then redirect your internet searches to websites that the Yoursites123's programmer wants you to visit. They can also have a serious effect on your PC's security posture – due to this redirecting of your searches to unknown, and often dubious, websites.

How did I end up with the Yoursites123 on my PC?

In the majority of cases, Yoursites 123 will come neatly bundled with another program – and that could be anything from an upgrade to your trusted online VoIP app or a free game that a friend or acquaintance sent you in a link via an email or chat message. However, one thing to bear in mind is that it doesn't matter what you are downloading – browser hijackers aren't fussy and will hitch a ride with anything from a reputable PDF viewer to sparkly wallpaper or emoji downloads.

The good news is that YOU have a choice in whether you install a browser hijacker or not. This means that they are normally mentioned in the original download's End User License Agreement (EULA). A browser hijacker programmer will claim that their annoying, redirecting, mischievous browser hijacker is just as potentially wanted as it is unwanted – meaning they do not have anything to be surreptitious about.

How to avoid a browser hijacker

You've probably already come to the conclusion that if you don't want Yoursites123 on your computer, the best course of action you can take is to read the EULA properly!

How do I remove Yoursites123?

It can be a tedious task. It modifies browser settings and also makes modifications to Windows registry. Hopefully, the removal guide below will help you to remove this browser hijacker from your computer. If you have any questions, please leave a comment down below. Good luck and be safe online!

Yoursites123 Removal Guide:

1. First of all, download recommended anti-malware software and run a full system scan. It will detect and remove this infection from your computer. You may then follow the manual removal instructions below to remove the leftover traces of this infection. Hopefully you won't have to do that.

2. Remove Yoursites123 related programs from your computer using the Uninstall a program control panel (Windows 7). Go to the Start Menu. Select Control Panel → Uninstall a Program.

If you are using Windows 8 or 10, simply drag your mouse pointer to the right edge of the screen, select Search from the list and search for "control panel".

Or you can right-click on a bottom left hot corner (formerly known as the Start button) and select Control panel from there.

3. When the Add/Remove Programs or the Uninstall a Program screen is displayed, scroll through the list of currently installed programs and remove the following programs:

Yoursites123

LiveLyrics

GoSave

ExtTag

If you are using Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8, click Uninstall up near the top of that window. When you're done, please close the Control Panel screen.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

If you keep getting the gamezonenews.net pop-up on your PC that you are pretty certain that you didn't install yourself and you are simply unsure as to how it got there then, don't worry, because you are not alone by any stretch of the imagination. This is something that is known as a browser hijacker and the chances are that you will very soon find yourself desperately trying to uninstall this rogue program not all that long after you discovered it.

If you have CCleaner, you can open it and find the modification under Tools > Startup HKLM:Run CMD cmd.exe /c start http://zenigameblinger.org && exit

You can simply select it and click Delete. That's probably the easiest way to remove it.

Browser hijackers can be really quite annoying – and not only because they have you in a quandary as you try and figure out exactly where they came from. In addition to this you were more than happy with your existing tool bar, home page or browser (the things that browser hijackers most commonly replace) so where did this new version come from – and why? More to the point, how do you prevent one from foisting itself upon you again at some point in the future?

What exactly is gamezonenews.net and how does it infect you?

Browser hijacker are quite cunning – just like their malware brothers and sisters in fact – and will make their way on to your PC through a couple of different means. Some of them come pre-installed with a new desktop or laptop while others – and this speaks for the majority of them - are bundled with another software program that you have downloaded. Browser hijacker that displays gamezonenews.net pop-ups when Windows starts usually comes bundled with freeware.

What to do if you have been infected

First of all, don't panic! Gamezonenews.net pop-up will not, generally speaking, do you any harm. Having said that though, you probably will want to get rid of it as quickly as you can because browser hijackers can be very annoying! All you need to do is to go to your desktop or laptop's Control Panel, click on Programs and choose the Uninstall or Change a Program option. Here you will be able to see the names of all of the software and programs that are installed on your computer – including anything rogue like the Potentially Unwanted Program. Take a good look at the list of programs and if you find something you don't recognize or recall downloading, you can choose to uninstall it here.

How to prevent a browser hijacker infection in the future

The problem is that browser hijackers can be packaged with pretty much anything – no matter how legitimate so that makes them hard to avoid. One thing you can do is to only download software from the publisher's website and be cautious about clicking online links and adverts in case they lead you to somewhere that has been compromised. To stop annoying pop-ups on your computer, you can use Autoruns for Windows or open up Windows registry editor, search for gamezonenews.net or zenigameblinger.org and delete all entries you find. You can also remove this pop-up window by removing the start-up entry in the Windows Task Scheduler. I recommend using Autoruns or CCleaner. Once the problem is fixed, scan your computer with anti-malware software. Why? Because very often this adware comes bundled with adware and even spyware. There might be malware on your computer that you didn't notice yet. If you have any questions, please leave a comment down below. Good luck and be safe online!

1. First of all, download recommended anti-malware software and run a full system scan. It will detect and remove this infection from your computer. You may then follow the manual removal instructions below to remove the leftover traces of this malware. Hopefully you won't have to do that.

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About Me

Hi there, and welcome to my humble web presence. I'm Michael Kaur. Malware squasher, geek, and blogger based in Los Angeles, CA. If you'd like to contact me, the easiest way is through email given below or Google+. Simply add me to your Google Plus circles.

DisclaimerThis is a self-help guide. Use at your own risk. Deletemalware.blogspot.com can not be held responsible for problems that may occur by using this information.

About the blogThis blog provides reliable information about the latest computer security threats including spyware, adware, browser hijackers, Trojans and other malicious software. We do NOT host or promote any malware (malicious software). We just want to draw your attention to the latest viruses, infections and other malware-related issues. The mission of this blog is to inform people about already existing and newly discovered security threats and to provide assistance in resolving computer problems caused by malware.